Four years after his last appearance in the blue shirt Lievremont, 30, is back into action and will replace out-of-form flanker Olivier Magne.

Imanol Harinordoquy, the usual number eight, will wear the number seven shirt for the match.

The clash will be an opportunity for Lievremont, who is in excellent form with Biarritz, to show what he is capable of and earn a regular place with France until the 2007 World Cup which will be staged on home soil.

I am extremely happy to be back with the French team, he said.

I want to show (France coach) Bernard Laporte what I can do and prove him that he was right to call me up.

I am 30, I am the Biarritz captain and I will take on my responsibilities.

I feel strong and more mature than four years ago.

Lievremont's main role against the Welsh will be to break through the defence with his physical strength but the player claims he is versatile and can bring far more to the side.

They are expecting me to break their first defence line, that's probably the main reason why they called me up, he added.

But I don't want to be that player only. This is not my only attribute, I will use all the skills required from a number eight.

The 2007 World Cup does not seem unreachable for me, I am 30 and I still feel very young in my mind.

France won their first two tournament clashes over Ireland (35-17) and Italy (25-0).

However, Laporte and team manager Jo Maso's ambitions were overshadowed on Thursday by the withdrawal of centre Brian Liebenberg.

The South African-born player has problems with his right knee and was replaced by winger Aurelien Rougerie after first-choices Clement Poitrenaud and Tony Marsh turned down call-ups with ankle and Achilles injuries respectively.

Centre Damien Traille is also doubtful with a right thigh problem suffered with his club side Pau last weekend and he has not trained all week.

If Traille can't play then Stephane Glas, called up late on Thursday night, will start on Sunday.